Lowe alleges that she was never given a bad review, that ITD Board member Gary Blick made sexist comments about her, and perhaps most incriminating, that she was pressured to preserve $50 million dollars in contracts for URS-Washington Group Intl. and CH2M Hill that she felt would better be managed in house.

"Ms. Lowe was not deterred by these threats and was determined to do what was in the best interest of the State of Idaho and its citizens," the tort and whistle blower claim states.

Idaho Democratic Party Executive Director Jim Hansen jumped on the charges and the ties between Gov. Otter, Senate Transportation Committee Chairman John McGee and the named contractors.

“This is just the latest example of rampant Republican cronyism, mismanagement and favoritism toward special interests,” said Hansen. “From secret settlements arranged by the Idaho Tax Commission to corporate tax giveaways made at the expense of middle-class Idaho families, there’s a pattern here and Idahoans are growing tired of it.”